Anacostia Community Museum — Attraction in Washington

This Museum is a off the main path amazing find in Southeast, DC! I remember as a young child visiting the Anacostia Museum at a different location. Fast forward to 2019 and you will find a new location with lots of history hidden away. When approaching the building you will notice the very nice landscaping around the facility. The inside was very clean and has lots of deep history that will open your mind to the past into the future. Before there was an African American Museum there was the Anacostia Museum. A neighborhood museum that was originally the Carver Theater. John Kinard was appointed director of the museum in June 1967. He was a pastor and activist during the Civil Rights Movement, Kinard was heavily involved in the Anacostia neighborhood, His vision was to make sure that the young people of the neighborhood were involved in the creation of the museum. Fast forward to today and it's still holding roots in Southeast, DC and in 1987 was moved to Fort Stanton. In 1995, the Anacostia Museum became the Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture. It was to serve as the location for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This is a great find if you want to visit the birth from a neighborhood museum to modern day museum under the Smithsonian umbrella. I'll visit again soon to see even more scheduled updates...

I discovered this museum by chance and thankfully so. It is the first Smithsonian Museum dedicated to African American History. It was certainly a smaller space than I expected yet I was pleasantly surprised at how well designed the exhibits were and how very interactive and engaging the entire museum was. The garden outside really caught my attention, Lavender, mint oregano and rosemary and some other random flowers that attract giant bees and countless moths and butterflies!!!!!! I must say the landscaping is certainly a highlight. I found the exhibit very interesting, focused on women and environmental issues, gentrification and systemic racism enhancing the effects of climate change in low income areas. Very thoughtfully curated and well managed. The staff was welcoming and the front desk informed me of all I needed to feel comfortable in the space as I walked in. There was plenty of security and a lot of people enjoying the space with their children. The outdoors make a great place for a picnic...

The Anacostia Community Museum may be the smallest of the Smithsonian's but it's the first federally funded community museum in the country. Located in SE DC in Fort Stanton, it's often overlooked since it's the farthest from the National Mall and not near a Metro. Despite this, if you live in DC, it's worth for these reasons:

1. It's a community museum and highlights the marginalized in our city and advocates for community, advocacy, and identity. They invite you to interact with the each exhibit asking yourself about how you define freedom and identity. If anything, it makes you reflect and think.

2. It only takes 15-30 minutes to go through so if you need a quick trip, it's for you.

3. The building is beautiful and there are a few murals inside that are striking.

4. There's a nice park next door with picnic tables to enjoy the outdoors.

5. It's free and they host some great events also for free.

If you're a tourist and short on time in DC, skip this one. if you're a local, visit this place...